Clamp for electric wires



Patented Aug. 30, I898.

& E m .wm D 1 RW% B N on ER L n 1 I R. ow Fu 8 m PD. M A L c UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

SYLVESTER S. LEONARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CLAMP FOR ELECTRIC WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,888, dated August30, 1898.

Application filed January 24, 1898. Serial No. 667,684. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SYLVESTER S. LEON- ARD, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clampsfor Electric ires, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a certain improved clamp for securing electricwires or cables to the glass insulators by means of which such wires aresupported upon poles or other structures.

The object of the invention is to produce a clamp adapted to take theplace of the ordinary tie-wires by means of which it is now customary tosecure electric wires to the glass insulators; and to such end theinvention consists in certain features of novelty embodied in a clampdesigned for this purpose and adapted to make such clamp easy to handleand apply in all positions, as is necessary in a device of this kind,and to give it a firm and substantial grip upon the wire or cable toprevent longitudinal motion of the latter.

The drawings illustrate said invention by means of five figures, ofwhich- Figure l is a plan View of the device in its preferred form. Fig.2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a side elevation looking in thedirection of the arrow 3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectionin line a a of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through theline 5 5 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, Ais an ordinary glass insulator having the ordinarycircumferential groove a for the attachment of the ordinary tie-wire. Inthe device here shown a wire loop 13, approximately U shaped, rests insaid groove and has upon its central portion a hinge-joint l), which itis desirable to use in heavy wires to avoid the necessity of bending orspringing such wires in the direction of the clamp. The ends of the loopextend through two clamping-blocks C D, one end of the wire passingthrough holes 0 (Z and being clenched or bent upon the outside of thelatter, as seen at b, to prevent the blocks from being pulled away fromor falling ofi of the wireloop. The holes 0 dare large enough, however,to permit the blocks to slip readily back and forth upon the wire. Theblock C is shaped upon its rear surface to fit the convex glassinsulator,so that longitudinal movement of the block thereupon isimpossible. The opposite ends of the blocks contain slots 0 d, adaptedtoreceive the other end of the wire, which is shown as screw-threaded andas having a thumb-nut E applied thereto and a washer F interposedbetween said nut and the block D. This end of the block D is shown asprovided with lugs d d, which prevent the nut and washer fromaccidentally slipping outward from the block D. Both of the blocks areprovided with grooves c d, adapted to receive the wire or cable and tobear upon a sufficient surface thereof to give the necessary holdwithout undue jamming or crushing of the same. Opposite from the groovesone of said blocks is provided with a rib or flange 0 adapted to serveas a fulcrum to throw the bearing-point between the two blocks as farfrom the wire or cable as possible to increase the purchase upon thelatter.

In the operation of this device the wire loop is placed about the glassinsulator, the free end brought into the slots or notches in the blocks,and the wing-nut screwed up sufliciently to prevent the accidentaldropping of the clamp from the insulator. The line-wire is then adjustedin position in the grooves in the blocks and the clamp turned up tightlythereupon until the necessary hold is obtained. The line-wire maybeadjusted longitudinally immediately before the clamp is so tightenedupon it, and after the latter is so tightened cannot move therein.

Great variation in the form of this device and also in the constructionand arrangement of the various parts thereof is possible, and Itherefore desire not to limit myself to the specific details here shownin any of these parts.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A clamp of theclass described consisting of a flexible loop adapted to embrace theglass insulator and a pair of clamping-blocks loosely secured to theloop at one end and each proprovided at the other end with a notchadapted to receive the free end of the wire, said free end beingprovided with means for clamping it upon said blocks; substantially asdescribed.

2. A clamp of the class described consisting of a pair ofclamping-blocks formed upon their adjacent surfaces to receive and holda wire or cable, the block next to the glass insulator having its rearsurface fitted thereto sufficiently to preventlongitudinal movementthereupon and both of said blocks being notched at one end from theiredges inward, a flexible loop loosely secured at one end to the otherend of said blocks and adapted at its free end to enter said notches anda clamping-nut threaded to the free end of the loop and adapted to bescrewed down upon the blocks; substantially as described.

3. In a clamp of the class described, the flexible wire loop, B, theblocks, 0, D, having the notches, 0, cl, and one of the lugs, d 01 theinner surfaces of said blocksbeing adapted to clamp a wire or cable, oneend of the loop being loosely secured to the blocks and the other endbeing adapted to enter the notches and being provided with a clamping-nut; substantially as described.

4. A clamp of the class described having two wire-clamping blocksperforated at one end and notched at the other, the inner of said blocksbeing longitudinally concave and laterally convex and the outer havingan outwardly-extending projection at extremity of the notch and a loopextending through the perforations and clenched upon the blocks at oneend and being adapted at the other end to enter the notches and thereprovided with a nut adapted to seat upon the outer surface of the outerblock behind said projection; substantially as described.

5. The combination with the blocks, 0, D,

having the perforations, c, d, the notches, c, d, the grooves, 0 d, andthe rib, c of the loop, B, extending through the perforations andclenched at b, and having at the other end the nut, E; substantially asdescribed.

6. A clamp for attaching electric wires and the like to the ordinaryinsulator consisting of an inner block longitudinally concave andlaterally convex on one side, to fit the customary circumferentialgroove in the insulator, and adapted upon its opposite side to engagewith the Wire, an outer block having its inner surface also adapted toengage said wire, a rib or elevation uponone of said blocks at adistance from the line of engagement with the wire and adapted to bearupon the other block and a clamping-loop adapted to embrace theinsulator and engage at its opposite ends the opposite ends of theblocks between the wire and the rib; substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Chicago, in thecounty of Cook and State of Illinois, this th day of January, A. D.1898.

SYLVESTER S. LEONARD.

Witnesses:

CHAS. O. SHERVEY, A. I. H. NELSON.

